Inking and wiping device applicable to copper-plate-printing machines.



R. G. F. DELAHAYE.

INKING AND WIPING DEVICE APPLICABLE TO COPPER PLATE PRINTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED AUG-28,1913.

1,,1536A13 Patented. Apr.20, 1915.

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2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTOJJTHQ, WASHINGTON. D.

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R. G. F. DELAHAYE.

APPLICATION HLED AUG.28, 1913.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

'HE N JRR/s PETERS Ca, F'HOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. c

INKING AND WIPING DEVICE APPLICABLE TO COPPER PLATE PRINTING MACHINES.

RENE GEORGES FERNANID DELAHAYE, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

INKING AND WIPING DEVICE APPLICABLE TO COPPER-PLAlE-PRINTING MACHINES.

Application filed August 28, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RENE GEORGES FER- NAND DELAI-IAYE, a citizen of the French Republic, of 49 Rue Montmartre, in the city of Paris, Republic of France, have invented an Inking and Wiping Device Applicable to Copper-Plate-Printing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. 7 1 r In order to pull proofs by means ofcopper-plates (in intaglio) on manually operated machines it has hitherto been necessary to ink the plate by hand, and then to wipe a number of times with different rags, in order to remove completely the ink spread over the plate outside the lines. These successive operations are long and delicate, and necessitate the employment of workmen perfectly familiar with this type of work.

The present invention has for its object a device-applicable to any copper-plate printing machine provided with a flat table and particularly to hand presses enabling the engraved plates to be inked and wiped mechanically and automatically with great rapidity and Without the assistance of special workmen.

This device is constituted broadly by a certain number of radiating arms arranged in a semi-circle, and capable of receiving a movement of rotation from a vertical shaft provided with a hand wheel. One of these arms supports an ink reservoir and specially arranged inking rollers. The other arms serve as supports for rollers upon which bands of fabric of appropriate width are mounted. By rotating the hand wheel the inking rollers are caused to pass over the plate whereupon the bands of fabric wipe it in. succession. After the passage of each band of fabric over the engraved plate, the roller supporting this band rotates automatically under the influence of a ratchet device, in such a manner that the portion of the fabric soiled by the ink is displaced, and a fresh clean portion of the fabric is ready for re-wiping the engraved plate. The rollers supporting the fabric might as well r0- tate during the passage of the wiping fabric on the plate.

A movable support integral with the table of the printing machine enables the plate to be brought without trial into the position Specificationpf Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2%, 1915.

Serial No. 787,159.

in which it can be inked and wiped by the device.

The inventionis illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 illustrates in elevation the improved device fitted to a press. Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line A-A in Fig. 2 showing the device in side elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the device on the line BB in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line C-G in Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are two vertical sections respectively in the lines DD and EE in Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a modification of Fig. 7.

As shown in the drawing, the inking and wiping device forming the objects of the invention comprises four radiating metal arms at, a a a arranged in a semi-circle. These arms, which are arranged horizontally and each of which is reinforced by a rib, are integral at one of their ends, and rest upon a metal cylinder 1) through which a vertical shaft 0 passes; along one of its generating lines this shaft is provided with a rib 0 serving to connect the said shaft with the arms a and the cylinder 1) (Fig. 4:).

The shaft 0 is maintained in the vertical position by two horizontal supports 03 and al fixed upon the frame 6 of the printing machine, which comprises in the ordinary manner two pressure rollers f and f actuated by a capstan wheel 7, and a moving table 7. The shaft 0 supportingthe arms a, 0., a a is arranged at the side of this table and carries at its upper part a hand Wheel 9 enabling a movement of rotation to be imparted to it as hereinafter explained. A metal plate it is arranged at the free extremity of each arm a, a a a9; this plate constitutes, with the said arm and the portion of the cylinder 1) opposite this plate, a kind of frame open at its lower part and serving as a support for the inking device or for the wiping devices.

The inking device which is arranged beneath the arm a comprises a receptacle z intended for the reception of the ink, its bottom being provided with a longitudinal slit through which the ink flows. Beneath this slit is arranged a roller 2' with which a pair of distributing rollers 6 contact; these rollers are themselves in contact with two rollers '5 intended for inking the engraved plate.

The aperture of the slit in the ink reservoir i can be regulated by means of screws i and the extremities of this ink reservoir are provided with projections j which engage and are capable of displacement in slots 70 and [a respectively integral with the vertical plate it and with the cylinder 6.

The vertical adjustment of the ink reservoir is obtained by means of spiral springs Z arranged beneath the projections j and by means of screws m passing through the arm a and exerting pressure upon a metal strip m the extremities of which are in contact with the edges of the ink reservoir. The lateral position of the latter is insured by a leaf spring Z engaged in the slot 70 Each of the three other arms (6,: 03, a serves as support for a wiping device constituted in the following manner:

In vertical slots at and n arranged like the slots 72 and 71 that is to say integral with the vertical plate It and with the cylinder Z), two side blocks 01? and n are engaged, these blocks serve to support the spindles of the three rollers 0, 0 and 0 arranged one above the other and presenting a certain interval between them. The lower roller is covered with pliable material. Upon the central roller 0 an appropriate band of pliable fabric 79 is wound; this band passes over the lower roller 0 and is then wound onto the upper roller 0, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The height of the lower roller 0 which is intended to come into contact with the engraved plate, can be regulated by means of screws 9 and the position of the slide blocks 71 and n is insured laterally by a leaf spring Z and vertically by screws m passing through the upper arm and acting upon a strip of metal m On the other hand, in order to permit of obtaining the displacement of the band 7) after the engraved plate has been wiped, the spindle of the upper roller passes through the vertical plate It through an opening provided for that purpose, as shown in Fig. 4:. Outside the plate 7L this spindle carries a ratchet wheel r with the teeth of which a spring pawl 1' pivoted to the plate It engages; this pawl prevents rotation of the wheel r in one direction.

A support 8, fixed to the vertical frame 0 of the machine receives a spring pawl t arranged in such a manner that it is able to engage the upper teeth of the ratchet wheel T when the device is rotated and the said wheel comes opposite this pawl 16.

Fig. 8 is a modification of Fig. 7; it shows 7 by way of example another arrangement which may be adopted. In addition to the three rollers 0, 0 0 two supplementary rollers o and 0 are used, between which passes the wiping fabric after passing on the roller 0 and before reaching the roller 0. It is these rollers which clamp the fab: rio and pull it under the action of a ratchet r mounted on the roller 0 The same roller 0 supports a gear wheel r gearing with a gear wheel 7 mounted on the axis of the roller 0 and driving said roller 0 by friction. To permit of bringing the engraved plate exactly into the position in which it can be inked and wiped, the table f of the machine presents a dovetail slot at in which a metalbed platen t is displaceable; this bed is provided with an operating knob t". In one direction the travel of this bed is limited by astop 7 presented by the table i and in the other direction by an adjustable stop, in such a manner that when the bed is shifted home in the forward direction, the engraved plate is situated precisely axially of the cylinder 6 supporting the arms a, a, a, a

The rigidity of the table and of its movable bed is insured, on the one hand, by the pressure of the rollers of the press, and on the other hand, by a screw 2: engaged in the support d 7 I i The position of the whole device constituted by the inking and wiping cylinders relatively to the said plate can be adjusted owing to the manner in which the cylinder b carrying the arms a, a a a ismounted between two spiral springs '11 and '0 surrounding the ends of the shaft 05 p L By acting upon a nut 10 engaged on a threaded portion of the shaft 0 and serving as point of support for the upper spring v, the position of the cylinder 7) canbe modified as it is capable of sliding upon the shaft 6, as stated above. V I

The general operation of thedevice that has been described is as follows: Thedevice occupying its normal position represented in Figs. 1 and 2, the table f being disengaged, the bed t is operated insuch a manner as to bring the engraved plate, which is arranged at the end of the said platen, opposite the cylinder b. When this has been done,,the operator actuates the hand wheel 9 in such a manner as to rotate the arms a, a}, a a in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. In this movement the inking rollers 2' supplied with ink from the ink reservoir 2' first of all come into contact with the engraved plate which is thus covered with ink, whereupon the inking rollers leave the said plate. At this moment the wiping device,

contact with. the engraved plate and complete the wiping of its surface. It then only remains to press back the bed t in order to bring the plate into the position shown in Fig. 3 whereupon the proof is pulled. in the ordinary manner. In the movement of rotation of the device the arma carrying the first band of fabric p, whose portion that has already contacted with-the engraved plate is soiled with ink, passes opposite the pawl t integral with the frame 6 of the machine. At this momentthe said pawl'engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel r and rotates it. 'As the extremity of the band of fabric 79 is fixed to the upper roller 0, upon the spindle of which the ratchet wheel r is mounted, the said band is displaced and a portion of it becomes wound upon the roller 0 while a corresponding length unwinds from the roller 0 The portion of the band soiled with ink therefore passes upward and a fresh and clean portion of this band comes beneath the roller 0 so that the device is again ready to serve its purpose; The same applies to the bands 3? of the other two wiping devices which, before the apparatus resumes its normal position, are wound onto each of their rollers 0.

It will be readily understood from what has been stated that the present device permits of inking and wiping engraved plates mechanically and it is only necessary for the several parts of this device to be well adjusted for these two operations to take place with the greatest regularity. Furthermore,

owing to the construction of the device it can be fitted to all types of copper plate printing machines thathave hitherto been marketed.

The arrangements described above have been given by way of example only and the forms, dimensions and detail arrangements can vary in every case without thereby affecting the principle of the invention. Thus for example, the position of the inking and wiping device can be altered; this device might also be fixed in which case the engraved plate would be mounted upon an appropriate movable support to cause this plate to pass beneath the inking and wiping device.

Claims:

1. In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms and bands of fabric carried by the other arms, these inking rollers and these bands of fabric coming successively into contact with the engraved plate when the operating shaft is rotated.

2. In a copper-plate printing machine, an

inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting'these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, an ink reservoir forfeeding the inking rollers, and bands of fabric carried by the other arms.

3. In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a ver tical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, an ink reservoir for feeding the inking rollers carried by the same arm and bands of fabric carried by the other arms.

4:. In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, an ink reservoir supported by the same arm for feeding the inking rollers, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, and means for vertically adjusting the inking rollers and the ink reservoir.

5. In a copper-plate printingmachine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, an ink reservoir supported by the same arm for feeding the inking rollers, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, and screws and springs for adjusting the rollers and the ink reservoir.

6. In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, and rollers and reels upon which these bands of fabric pass.

7 In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, rollers and reels upon which these bands of fabric pass, and means for vertically adjusting the rollers and the reels;

' 8. In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, rollers and reels upon which these bands of fabric pass,

10. In a copper-plate printing machine,

an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, rollers and reels upon which these bands of fabric pass, 7

screws and springs for vertically adjusting the rollers and the reels, a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on the axis of each upper roller, and an operating pawl and a retaining pawl for rotating successively the rollers carrying the bands of fabric.

11. In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, and horizontal supports secured to the frame of the printing machine to support the rotary shaft carrying the arms. 7

12. In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, and horizontal supports secured to the side of the frame of the printing machine for supporting the rotary shaft carrying the arms and so that this shaft may be laterally placed in relation to the table of the said machine.

13. In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried byone of the arms, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, horizontal supports secured to the side of the frame of the printing machine for supporting the rotary shaft carrying the arms and so that this shaft may be laterally placed in relation to the table of the said machine, and a fly-wheel for turning the rotary shaft.

14. In a copper-plate printing machine, an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms, inking rollers carried by one of the arms, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, horizontal supports secured to the side of the frame of the printing machine for supporting the rotary shaft carrying the arms and so that a tary shaft carrying the arms and so that a this shaft may be laterally placed in relation to the table of the said machine, and screw nuts. and springs placed upon themtary shaft for adjusting the elevation of the arms.

an inking and wiping device constituted by metal arms arranged'in a semi-circle, a vertical shaft capable of receiving a movement of rotation supporting these arms,.inking rollers carried by one of the arms, bands of fabric carried by the other arms, and a movable plate capable of sliding in the grooves of the table of the printing machine to bring the engraved plate into the required position under the inking and wiping rollers.

The foregoing specification of my inking and wiping device applicable to copperplate printing machines signed by me this 13th day ofAugust, 1913.

RENE GEORGES FERNAND DELAHAYF.

Witnesses:

HANsoN C. Co'xn, RENE THIRIOT.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

16. In a copper-plate printing machine." 

